5 Ways You Can Care for Your Mental Health in the ‘New Normal’

As a 'new normal' way of life is starting to become established in our society, we have to be prepared for the mental health impact this may have. Millions of people are facing stress as a result of Covid-19, with 69% suffering from anxiety in mid-March at the beginning of lockdown. If we don't care for our mental health, then we could face long-lasting issues like anxiety and depression, which affect us for years to come.Make sure you take the time now to assess the way the world is changing and prepare yourself mentally for tomorrow, next week and the coming months where Covid-19 will still be a part of our lives. Please keep reading for my top tips as a therapist on how you can care for your mental health in the 'new normal' of our society.

Take Your Time

This 'new normal' way of living is a shock to all of us. Many of us for the first time are experiencing remote working, mask-wearing and social distancing. But at the same time, restrictions are being lifted, and thousands of people are starting to engage with routine activities in some capacity again. Trying to navigate this way of life will be difficult, and the best way you can protect your mental health is to take your time easing your way into this world.Don't give in to the pressure to follow everybody else's actions. It can be easy to give in to the pressure of friends and feel guilty for not hanging out with them even if it is still risky. By allowing people's comments to get to you, you may start to feel depressed or stressed because you feel attacked for making the decision to stay-at-home. Protect your mental health by reminding yourself of the reasons you take your time: to protect yourself and your family and friends. By seeing people who disregard this as people who disregard your health, it should be easy to ignore them and continue taking your time.

Take a Deep Breath

Understanding and living in this 'new normal' can be very stressful. And if we let this stress overwhelm our lives, it can develop into more serious mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. It might sound like a simple statement, but when you feel stressed, 'take a deep breath'. This can prevent panic attacks and help us disassociate from the thing which is causing us stress. We take a mental step back and focus on calming ourselves down before approaching the situation again with a more prepared mindset. You can download apps on your phone to guide you through meditation or quick breathing exercises which help you override your body's stress and relax.

Stay Connected With People

With many areas of the UK still facing social distancing which extends into the households or prevents them from seeing family, isolation has become a part of thousands of people's 'new normal'. This isolation can cause you to fall into a pit of depression, with no one to talk to or interact with.Make sure you are maintaining communication and healthy relationships with friends and family to keep your mental health uplifted. Try and keep in touch via phones, video calls or social media. By creating a schedule where you have someone to talk to every day, you can keep feelings of loneliness at bay.

Block Out the Negativity

We must keep up-to-date with the latest regarding Covid-19, but overwhelming yourself with the news can have a detrimental effect on your mental health. Always watching the news, reading articles and getting into debates with people about Covid-19 can cause you to develop anxiety or depression as you are constantly faced with negativity.Restrict how often you watch the news about Covid-19. Start scrolling past articles on Facebook or even reduce the amount of time spent on social media altogether. You don't need to seek positive news as a countermeasure, but allow yourself to see information regarding the positive advancements around Covid-19, like vaccinations and medical advances.

Talk About It

One of the best ways you can overcome any anxiety or depression brought on by this 'new normal', is to talk about it. This can be being open and honest with friends and family about your struggles and allowing them to support you the best they can. It can also be seeking out a mental health expert and gaining their insight and advice into how you can overcome your mental health issues.By speaking with a therapist, you can enter a safe space to release all of the emotions and thoughts which plague you daily. This helps take a weight off your chest, which becomes more permanent the more you share with your therapist. This honesty allows them to understand you as a person and provide you with the personalised advice and support you need to feel in control of your mental health and your life once again.Please don't hesitate to take a look at my website to learn more about my services as a therapist. I understand that you may be facing some anxiety regarding going back out in the world, and so are currently offering remote therapy sessions for all of my current and new clients. Just get in contact with me to learn more, as I want the happiness and comfort of your clients during this time to remain significant.